The Corliss Steam Engine at The Henry Ford Museum

The Corliss Steam Engine powered a weaving mill in New England. It was built in Providence, Rhode Island in 1854; the big wheel weighs between 30 and 50 tons - it was never weighed. It's operated once a week under compressed air at 12 RPM. Originally, running under steam, it operated at 80 to 100 RPM. The pretty little glass things full of oil are McCoy oilers, origin of the phrase "the real McCoy." The video is not great, because there is no really good viewing spot - there are things in cases and arranged around it so that it's impossible to get a clear walk-around, and it's shaky because I was really tired by this time. There are other videos of the various parts; I spent over an hour taking pictures, because it is my favorite thing in the museum.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Corliss
• Corliss_steam_engine
• Steam_engine
• Henry_Ford

[thecanook88]

that engine does not look like a true corliss engine it may say that it is but the valve gear does not look like a corliss valve gear

[mopalia]

@thecanook88 There's a shot of the nameplate at 1:50. It's well documented and there's not really any doubt about its origins. That said, there have been some modifications relating to the operation under compressed air. I don't know enough about these to address your comment technically, but it's a Corliss.

[thecanook88]

@mopalia it may say that it is a corliss but many companies would sell engines labeled as corliss engines due to the efficiency rating. But in order for it to actually be a true corliss engine it would need dash pots and a catch and release mechanism incorporated in the valve gear. if it does not have either one of these then it is not a true corliss engine.